Improvement in lightning-rods



W. A. WELLS & G. HOUSE.

improvement in Lightning Rods.

M, J JUU messes Patented Feb. i3, 1872.

0a, \1 e is o 1215 22 a ii m;d

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WARREN A. WELLS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, AND GEORGE HOUSE, OF GALLIPOLIS, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIGHTNINGRODS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,600, dated February 13, 187:2; antcdated January 27, 187i.

SPECIFICATION, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \V-ARREN A. ELLS of St. Paul, inthe county of Ramsey, State of Minnesota, and GEORGE LloUsE,ofGallipo1is, in the county of Gallia, State of Ohio, have in vented a new and useful lniproveniei'itin Li ght ningtods; and we do hereby declare the following; to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which our invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a cross-section of alightning-rod embodying ourimprovements, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same.

Sim ilarletters otrei'erence indicate like parts in both figures of the drawin ()ur invention relates to that class of lightning-rods which are provided with a copper covering or casing and the improvements consist in the form and construction of the same, which will be more fully understood from i the followin descri ition.

In the draii'ing, A represents the rod proper, which is made oi soft iron, of an y desired length, and is formed ii-at upon its rear side, and is tinted upon its front side, as shown at B, formin g projecting ridges a and a. Firmly secured upon and around the said rod is a covering of thin sheet copper, O, which is shaped corre sponding to the outer sides of the rod, and is closely titted thereto, so as to protect the iron from exposure and rust, and to give a greater conducting-surt'ace.

By this construction and form of rod a great er surtacemay be obtained with a given amount of material; it is stiff and strong, retaining its shape, and not liable to bend laterally; a continuous rod may be formed at less cost than any of the heretofore-known rods having the same amount of surface; and its shape is such as to admit of being easily bent and adjusted to conform to its connections with building's.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A lightning-rod, consisting of a continuous piece of iron, made flat upon its rear side, and fluted upon its front side, as shown, and provided with a sheet-copper covering, substantiaily as described.

The toregoing' specification of our invention signed by us this 8th day of June, A. D. 1871.

\VARREN A. WELLS. GEORGE HOUSE. \Vitnesses:

N. G. GRIDLEY, N. H. SHERBURNE, 

